David Cameron suggested that Nigel Farage is a “chicken” for not standing in the Newark by-election. The Prime Minister used an appearance on local radio in Birmingham to make a joke about the Ukip leader’s failure to take on the Conservatives in an election prompted by the resignation of Patrick Mercer. Mr Cameron was asked whether he laughed when Mr Farage was egged while campaigning on Thursday.

“I’ve been egged myself so I know,” Mr Cameron said. “I was egged in Cornwall. And actually when an egg hits you, this is going to sound quite weedy, they hit you quite hard actually. I got one in the back. This was several years ago.”

The Prime Minister then added: “But it has solved the great riddle, what came first – the chicken or the egg? Because of course there was the big chicken story the day before."

Panda wrote:That's strong language Iris!!! What about the others who have had eggs thrown at them?

One of my ex-boyfriends got arrested for throwing an egg at Thatcher. He got a rollicking off me too for, again, wasting a perfectly good egg.

I was trying to remember the Minister who threw a punch at his assailant.

John Prescott are you thinking about Panda?

That's him! thanks fuzeta, I could see his face but couldn't remember his name. I can understand Farage not wanting to contest the By-election because the 27,000 Conservative majority is a colossal hurdle to jump over and I foresee UKIP being courted by whoever wins but without an overall majority.